Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
  • B64C3/00—Wings
  • B64C3/38—Adjustment of complete wings or parts thereof
  • B64C3/56—Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/06—Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/10—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
  • E05D11/10—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts
  • E05D11/1007—Devices for preventing movement between relatively-movable hinge parts with positive locking
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
  • E05F15/00—Power-operated mechanisms for wings
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
  • E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
  • E05Y2900/50—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles
  • E05Y2900/502—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for vehicles for aircraft or spacecraft

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to powered or driven hinges, and, more particularly, to improved powered hinges having an automatic locking feature at the opposite ends of the permissible relative angular displacement of the hinge sections.
• the present F- 18 wingfold utilizes a compound planetary hinge rotary actuator to form the hinge lock.
• a compound planetary hinge rotary actuator to form the hinge lock.
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,478 This device has the inherent capability to handle the loads in the extended and folded positions, but is relatively large, heavy and expensive to manufacture.
• the F-35 with a thinner wing, cannot accommodate this type of hinge design due to a reduced envelope.
• a spline lock concept of driven hinge such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,418, has been developed. This provides a smaller-profile hinge lock, and an overall lighter design. However, it also requires tighter tolerances and difficult machining of the hinge actuator parts, as well as the mating aircraft structure.
• the present invention broadly provides an improved powered hinge (20) with an automatic locking feature proximate the ends of the permissible relative angular displacement of the two hinge sections.
• the improved hinge broadly includes: a stationary member (23) having a pivotal axis (x-x), and having a first slot (31) extending between opposite ends; a movable member (24) mounted for rotation about the pivotal axis relative to the stationary member, and having a second slot (34) extending between opposite ends; a driving member (28) adapted to be rotated about the pivotal axis relative to the stationary member from one angular position to another angular position, and having a third slot (36) extending between opposite ends; and an elongated pin (29) passing through the first, second and third slots, the pin being constrained for movement substantially parallel to the pivotal axis; the first, second and third slots being so configured and arranged that as the driving member is rotated from the one angular position to the other angular position, the pin will be moved from substantially one end of the each of the slots to substantially the other end of each of the slots, and the movable member will be rotated about the pivotal axis relative to the stationary member.
• the hinge may further include driving means (21) for selectively rotating the driving member relative to the stationary member.
• Each of the members may be a plate-like element.
• the hinge may include a plurality of the stationary and movable members arranged in an alternating series.
• the pin may be arranged to transmit torque in double-shear.
• a shaft (35) may connect each of the driving members.
• the stationary member is provided with a plurality of the first slots
• the movable member is provided with a plurality of second slots
• the driving member is provided with a plurality of third slots
• the improved hinge further includes a like plurality of pins.
• One of the slots preferably has a recess proximate an end thereof to function as a detent to prevent the penetrant portion of the pin from moving in a radial direction with respect to the pivotal axis when the penetrant pin portion is substantially at such slot end.
• Each of the first and third slots may have this recess, and the second slot may extend in a radial direction.
• the one slot may have a recess proximate each end thereof to function as detents to prevent the penetrant portion of the pin from moving in a radial direction with respect to the pivotal axis when the penetrant pin portion is substantially at either end of the slot.
• Each of the first and third slots may have the recess proximate each end thereof, and the second slot may be oriented in a radial direction with respect to the pivotal axis.
• the general object is to provide a powered hinge.
• Another object is to provide a powered hinge having an automatic locking feature proximate the ends of permissible relative movement between the two hinge sections.
• Another object is to provide a powered hinge having such an automatic locking feature, which is less expensive to manufacture and produce.
• Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an improved powered hinge, with a driving unit located in the middle of two hinge portions.
• Fig. 2 is a greatly-enlarged isometric view of a portion of the improved driven hinge, this view showing the stationary members, the movable members, the driving members, and the pins.
• Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the driving members and pins shown in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the stationary members and pins shown in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 5 is an isometric view showing the movable members and pins shown in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic end view of the various members, showing the profiles of the first, second and third slots in the stationary, movable and driving members, respectively, at various angular positions of the movable member relative to the stationary member.
• Fig. 7 is an end view of the powered hinge, schematically showing the profile of the first, second and third slots.
• Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the improved hinge, without the driving means.
• Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the powered hinge, taken generally on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and principally showing the input shaft as connecting the various driving members. Disclosure of the Preferred Embodiments
• the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader.
• the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
• the present invention broadly provides an improved powered hinge having an automatic locking feature proximate either end of the permissible relative angular displacement of its hinge sections.
• the present invention may be used on an aircraft wingfold. However, the invention has utility far broader then this one specific application. Accordingly, the invention should not be regarded as being limited to this particular end use.
• the improved powered hinge is generally indicated at 20. As best shown in Fig. 1, the hinge is shown as having a driving means 21 operatively arranged in the middle of two hinge portions, severally indicated at 22. Each hinge portion has a plurality of axially spaced stationary members, severally indicated at 23, and movable members, severally indicated at 24.
• the driving means 21 is operatively arranged to selectively rotate a shaft, described infra, by means of which the various movable hinge members 22 may. be selectively rotated about the pivotal axis (x-x) relative to the various stationary hinge members 23, as described infra.
• Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of one of the hinge parts.
• the stationary members are indicated at 23, and the movable members are indicated at 24.
• the powered hinge has a pivotal axis x-x.
• a plurality of stationary hinge sections 23 are spaced along axis x-x, and a plurality of movable hinge sections 24 are positioned between the various stationary sections.
• Each of the stationary and movable sections are shown as having suitable eyes, severally indicated at 25, by means of which the associated hinge section may be attached to other structure.
• the stationary hinges are depicted as being attached to a suitable support, generally indicated at 26.
• the improved hinge is also shown as further including a plurality of driving members, severally indicated at 28, and cylindrical pins, severally indicated at 29.
• Fig. 4 is an isometric view showing the various stationary members 23 and pins 29.
• the driving members 28 and movable members 24 have been removed from Fig. 4 to more clearly illustrate the stationary members and the pins.
• Fig. 5 is an isometric view depicting the movable members 24 and pins.
• the stationary members 23 and the driving members 28 have been removed from Fig. 5 to more clearly illustrate the structure of the movable members and the pins.
• each stationary member 23 is shown as being a somewhat plate-like member, having a central axial aperture 30, and having three circularly-spaced specially-configured first slots, severally indicated at 31.
• These slots which are shown more clearly in elevation of Fig. 6, have a somewhat S-shaped appearance, and have recesses 32 proximate either end thereof. These recesses function as detents to receive the various pins at the ends of the permissible angular displacements of the stationary and movable hinge members.
• the various movable members 24 are shown as being plate- like elements having central axial through aperture 33, and having three radially-disposed second slots, severally indicated at 34.
• each driving member 28 is shown as having a central axial aperture 35, and is provided with three circularly spaced third slots, severally indicated at 36.
• slots 36 have recesses, indicated at 38 proximate either end, that function as detents to receive and hold pins 29 proximate the end of their permissible angular displacements.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the first, second and third slots, and the position of a pin therein, at both extreme positions of movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member, as well as at an intermediate position.
• pin 29 In the 12 o'clock position, pin 29 is positioned at being in the recess adjacent the upper end of the third slot, and as positioned in the recess adjacent the upper end of the first slot, and as being at the upper end of the second slot.
• the driving means 21 may then be operated to selectively rotate the driving members relative to the stationary members.
• the pin In the 3 o'clock position of Fig. 6, the pin is shown as having moved to the other and inner end of the third slot, the inner end of the second slot and the inner end of the first slot. More particularly, at the 3 o'clock position, the pin is shown as being in the recesses of the first and third slots. At the 1 :30 o'clock position, the pin is shown as being at an intermediate position between the two extremes shown at the 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, respectively.
• Fig. 7 is a view of the powered hinge, again showing the profiles of the first, second and third slots and the positions of the pins therein. The position of the pin shown in Fig. 7 corresponds to the position of the pin shown at the 12 o'clock position in Fig. 6.
• Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the driven hinge section 22, showing the stationary and movable members.
• Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, showing an input shaft 35 as being concentric with pivotal axis x-x, and is operatively connecting a plurality of driving members that are interspaced within the stack of the alternating stationary and movable members, this view also showing one of the pins.
• the present invention broadly provides an improved powered hinge which broadly includes a stationary member having a pivotal access and having a first slot extending between opposite ends; a movable member mounted for rotation about the pivotal access relative to the stationary member, and having a second slot extending between opposite ends; a driving member adapted to be rotated about the pivotal axis relative to the stationary member from one angular position to another angular position, and having a third slot extending between the opposite ends; and an elongated pin passing through the first, second and third slots, the pin being constrained for movement substantially parallel to the pivotal access; the first, second and third slots being so configured and arranged that, as the driving member is rotated from one angular position to another angular position the pin will be moved from substantially one end of each of the slots to substantially the other end of each of the slots, and the movable member will be rotated about the pivotal axis relative to the stationary member.
• the ratio of angular movement of the movable member to the angular movement to the driving member is greater than 1 :1.
• first, second and third slots may also be varied.
• the word slot is intended to simply define a narrow opening which defines a path of movement for the pin.
• the various slots may or may not have recesses at either end that function as detents to lock the pins against radial movement at the extreme ends of the permissible movement of the hinge sections.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Hinge Accessories (AREA)
• Hinges (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38626895

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (20)

Family Cites Families (19)

• 2006
  • 2006-08-22 US US11/507,693 patent/US7600297B2/en active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-07-30 CN CN200780031028XA patent/CN101506037B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-07-30 KR KR1020097003071A patent/KR101069417B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-07-30 DE DE602007002924T patent/DE602007002924D1/de active Active
  • 2007-07-30 JP JP2009525543A patent/JP5111506B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-07-30 ES ES07810902T patent/ES2331859T3/es active Active
  • 2007-07-30 CA CA2658785A patent/CA2658785C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-07-30 EP EP07810902A patent/EP2054298B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2007-07-30 WO PCT/US2007/017037 patent/WO2008024178A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-07-30 AT AT07810902T patent/ATE446244T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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